Tech Office
Communication from St. Francis
As a reminder, St. Francis uses emails, phone calls, and text messages to share important updates and information. If you have not opted into receiving text message alerts you can easily do so by texting Y to 67587.
Parent Emergency Phone Test Alert on Oct 6
As part of our semester safety testing, we will be sending an emergency phone test alert to all parents on Sunday, October 6, 2024, at 6:00pm. If you wish to “opt-in” to receive SMS alerts for urgent messages from St. Francis, and have not already done so, you can subscribe by sending a Y in the message line to 67587.
We are only testing parent phones at this time. Student phone testing occurred earlier this semester. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Dean Cost.
Thank you in advance for your support.
Supplemental Chromebook Insurance
Don't Wait! Be sure to purchase supplemental Chromebook insurance today!
This month, the Technology Department has seen several student Chromebooks with battery failures. For students without supplemental insurance, Chromebook batteries are only covered under warranty for the first 12 months. Unfortunately, the cost to replace a battery can run over $100. For $34.95 a year, Securranty’s supplemental insurance will provide coverage for batteries, chargers, device malfunction, accidental damage, loss, theft, and standard perils. They also allow unlimited claims per year. To purchase insurance for 2024-2025, click here.
MySchoolBucks
The Serra Court Café is cashless and uses MySchoolBucks for all student meal accounts. If you are new to the school, you can set up a free MySchoolBucks account by following the instructions on our website. Parents/students can also drop a check off in the front office payable to St.
PowerSchool Portal and Schoology Access
PowerSchool Student/Parent Portal and Schoology credentials were sent to all incoming and transfer parents on July 29, 2024. Any questions about credentials or access can be directed to Lori Ansell.
Grades and Assignments
We use two components of the PowerSchool system so you may track your daughter’s progress while she is at St. Francis – PowerSchool Student/Parent Portal and Schoology. They are two separate sites with two separate logins.
Classwize
Beginning this summer, St. Francis will roll out a new in class management software on student Chromebooks called Classwize. Classwize provides teachers with a dashboard to help students by minimizing distracting, non-relevant websites and apps during class time, and maximizing learning. It will also allow teachers to lock down Chromebooks during digital exams and assessments, replicating experiences students may encounter with College Board examinations (PSAT/SAT/AP) and in college.
Chromebook Pick-Up for Class of 2028 and Transfers
First session summer school students may pick up their Chromebooks on June 4 from 3:00-5:00pm, or June 5 from 8:00-10:00am. Second session summer school students may pick up their Chromebooks on June 26 from 3:00-5:00pm.
Parent Software Used at St. Francis
St. Francis uses a variety of software products to keep parents informed and engaged.
Chromebook Replacement Chargers
We encourage families to only purchase certified replacement chargers for their students’ Chromebooks. Non-certified chargers can cause damage to the Chromebook and battery. Click here to purchase a school-approved replacement charger.
Chromebook/Charger Loaner Program Update
The Technology Department has seen an excessive number of requests this Fall from students wishing to borrow Chromebooks and Chromebook chargers. Per the Parent Student Handbook, students’ Chromebooks are to be with them and fully charged before coming to school each day. Beginning in January, we will be issuing detentions to students who do not return borrowed items on time.
Schoology: Enable Parent Email Notifications
Schoology provides parents with the ability to receive a daily/weekly digest of their student’s grades. For directions on how to set up these notifications, click here. Questions about your Schoology parent account? Please reach out to SFTech@stfrancishs.org.
New PowerSchool/Schoology Single Sign-on
We have updated our PowerSchool and Schoology sites to use a single sign with your unique PowerSchool Portal credentials. This means that you can sign into PowerSchool Portal and Schoology using your email address and your existing PowerSchool Portal password.
Final Forms Updates
Final Forms is the official online registration process for parents and students, used for back-to-school forms, including medical and emergency information, and forms that are required prior to participation in Athletics at St. Francis. Even if your family completed forms this summer for a Fall sport, there are additional forms that have been added and must be signed by both parents and students. All parents will need to complete their student’s registration information by August 10th. If you have any questions about logging into your account, please reach out to SFTech@stfrancishs.org.
Parents of student-athletes, particularly those competing in fall sports, should register their daughters on FinalForms as soon as possible. Tryouts and conditioning will begin as early as July 31, and all forms plus documentation of a physical need to be on file prior to any participation. Additionally, sports-specific details and information are sent through FinalForms.